Wednesday, October 21, 2009

A short time after it runs its feature on Creigh Deeds next Sunday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch will endorse Bob McDonnell for Governor, Bill Bolling for Lieutenant Governor, and Ken Cuccinelli for Attorney General. Over the years the TD has consistently endorsed Republican candidates in major elections. I understand the policy position of the TD ownership and I have no problem with it. It’s their paper and they can do with it whatever they want.

But, dear reader, when this bias passes into news reporting, this maven must protest. Today’s paper marks the second time that I have seen the TD running unflattering photos of Creigh Deeds. Each time they have shown Deeds frowning. These photos are the type that I would expect the Bob McDonnell campaign to use in their attack ads against Deeds. They make it very hard for the voter to like Mr. Deeds. After all, who wants to vote for someone who is always frowning?

I am sure that Bob Brown, the TD photographer who covered the gubernatorial debate, must have gotten at least one shot of Creigh Deeds without a frown on his face. Yet the editors chose to run this photo.

The TD is the daily newspaper for Greater Richmond. Regardless of its editorial bent toward supporting Republican candidates, it should be neutral in its news reporting. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. I hope that between now and the election the TD stops showing its bias in the photos it uses in its news reporting.

2 comments:

Anonymous
said...

You think Creigh(whats in your wallet)Deeds is frowning now wait until election day you will really see him frowning. You pick what comments get posted on here so i guess the Richmond Times-Dispatch can pick what photo they want to print.

I share your dislike for the RPD, but the disease is not confined to Richmond. Recently, the Roanoke Times supported all three Democrats for the top posts. Was this for good reason? Was it because they dislike Eastern Virginian? Was it because Deeds comes from area? No one knows. BUT, it was predictable. Sad to say, Virginia politics is a statewide disease.